Would-be Suicide Survives Golden Gate Bridge Shooting

Edward Epstein, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, May 11, 1995

An apparently suicidal 33-year- old Albany man was in fair condition yesterday after a California Highway Patrol officer shot him following a standoff that closed the Golden Gate Bridge for several hours Tuesday evening.

CHP officers and Marin County Sheriff's deputies said Bradley Kubik reached inside a pants pocket and pulled out what appeared to them to be a gun -- but actually was not -- just before he was shot several times. A San Francisco General Hospital spokeswoman said Kubik's condition was upgraded to fair after he underwent surgery for wounds to his right upper abdomen, left flank, right buttocks and a leg. He had been in critical condition when brought to the hospital late Tuesday.

Marin County Sheriff's Lieutenant Rich Laden said Kubik had been charged with two misdemeanors -- brandishing a weapon and interfering with police officers. In addition, he has been placed on a psychiatric hold at the hospital.

Kubik, a handyman who lived at the residence of an elderly woman in Albany, had been reported missing to Albany police at noon Monday by his employer. Police Chief Larry Murdo said the woman, who had employed Kubik "for some time," reported that she last saw Kubik Saturday.

"She said he had mentioned trying suicide, but she didn't think he was serious," said Murdo.

Neighbors described Kubik as a quiet man who had never exhibited irrational behavior. "No one was aware of him," said Murdo, who said Kubik never had any contact with his department.

The chief said Kubik's prior police record consisted of a minor alcohol-related arrest in Alameda County.

The incident that snarled bridge traffic for some 2 1/2 hours began at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when the CHP was called by Kubik's mother, who lives in Pleasanton. She told officers that her son was suicidal, possibly armed with a .38-caliber pistol he owned and headed for the bridge in his 1972 Datsun B210.

When police went to the bridge at about 8:45 p.m., they spotted Kubik's car in the parking lot near the north tower. A little later they saw him, dressed in camouflage fatigues, on the pedestrian walkway. Officers spent about an hour talking with Kubik.

At one point, Kubik climbed over the bridge railing and threatened to jump into the bay, police said. He was talked back onto the walkway. At other times, he taunted police and dared them to shoot him.

When Kubik reached for what police thought was a gun, he was shot four to six times.

Speaking to reporters after the 10 p.m. shooting, CHP officer Jerry Monge said investigators determined that the man was holding a plastic device shaped like a gun and that he was not actually armed.

The sheriff's department is still investigating the case and would not discuss the incident further.

The unidentified officer who shot Kubik has been placed on administrative leave, standard practice in officer-involved shootings. He is a 13-year veteran.

Reached at home by reporters, Kubik's mother said that she did not want to discuss the incident but that she had several questions about the shooting.